How to Make Black Candles

Black candles are made from paraffin with black pigment and a wax additive that makes them opaque. Add these additives in the proper amounts, and you can make deep black candles that lack the semi-transparency that characterizes paraffin.

Things You'll Need

Heat

Paraffin wax

Metal pot

Black pigment

Vybar

Candle mold

Candle wick

Place a metal pot on a heat source. Don't use a cooking pot. A metal pouring pot is designed for melting candle wax, but other metal pots can also be used. Try to find a pot with a pouring spout to keep spillage to a minimum.

Melt paraffin wax in the metal pot. Use a candy or candle thermometer to keep an eye on the temperature. Paraffin melts at anywhere from 130 to 180 degrees, depending on the formula.

Put a candle wick into the candle mold. The mold will either have a hole in the bottom for the wick, or the wick will have to be put into a wick tab to make it stand up. If the candle mold has a wick hole, thread one end of the candle wick through the hole and secure it with the wick screw that came with the candle mold. If there is no hole, place the wick through the wick tab and crimp the top of the tab with a pair of pliers. Place the wick tab in the center of the candle mold and tie the top of the wick to something flat that you can place across the outer edge of the mold.

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Add solid black candle color to the hot wax. The exact amount depends on the type of color that you have. Read the directions and add slightly more than is recommended for the deepest black color. Unlike other colors, adding excess pigment won't ruin black.

Measure about 1/2 tsp. of Vybar for every 1 lb. of paraffin. This will make your candle opaque with a deep black color.

Once all of the additives have melted, pour the wax mixture into the candle mold. Allow the wax to completely harden before taking the candle out of the mold. To test whether it is cooled, feel the sides of the mold. If you can still feel any heat through the mold, the candle is not ready to remove.